Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-22
THE PLAGUE OF THE EAST.
Two Victims in Philadelphia-The Leprosy
Patients Found.

! PHILADELPHIA, November Zl.-Lne
two lepers, mother and daughter, about
whom there has been so much comment
during the past two weeks, came into the
Office of the Board of Health, Saturday, OF
their own accord, and were sent out to the
municipal hospital for contagious diseases
in the hospital ambulance. When the un.
fortunate woman raised her veil her face
presented dreadful appearance. 1t looked
as though it had been scalded. The skin
was drawn and contracted and scanned with
wrinkles. The hands and arms which she
displayed were covered with shiny skin,
which was also cracked and scanned. The
little girl, who is only about twelve years
old, did not seem to be rs bad as the
mother, although her face Showed plainly
that she was suffering from some skin dis
ease Both mother and daughter were
neatly dressed, and the former seemed to
fully realize the position which she was IN.
The woman said that her name was Isa-
bella Mirande. She declined TO give any
definite information about her family. The
poor woman, however, told her story in q
general way, her voice choked sometimes
BY soBs AND TEARS
flowing from her eyes She is a native of
this country, and about twenty years ago
married native of Brazil. They lived
here for ten years, and then went to Bra
I'll, taking the two children they then had
with them. Since that time they have
lived in that country, most Of the time IN
Para. Two other children were born to
them. The wOman's husband, who died
several years ago, was captain on boat
that piled up and down the Amazon, and
the wCman says that whatever the nature
of the disease is, with which herself and
daughter are tiljcted, she is positive II is
the effect OF poison.
About four years ago they both ate OF
Brazilian plant, which is very poisonous.
In that country they have root which
much resembles q potato, but the effects
Of which on the human system Is deadly.
One of these roots was cooked by mistake,
and the woman and her child partOok Of
portion Of the dish before the error was
discovered They afterwards became sick.
The disease seemed to take deeper and
deeper hold until finally they were
REDUCED To SUCH STRAITS
that it was determined to send them both
to this country for medical treatment.
They have relatives in this city, and to
them they came about two years ago, and
here they have resided ever since.
Mrs Mirande says that she has been un-
der the care of DR.. VanArlingen but was
never told the exact nature of her disease
She does not know positively Just what it
is Her condition and that of her child,
she stated, hss much improved since they
have been here in Philadelphia, and about
three weeks ago she determined to return
to her home in the city of Para. She has
two grown up children down there, one OF
whom Is n young woman who is married,
while the other Is . hoy of 10 who is learn
ing to ne pilot. Her youngest child, about
years old, is also there. All these are
perfectly healthy and have never displayed
any symptoms of the disease. Mrs. Mi
raude lett this city and went to New York,
where she took passage on steamer foC
Braz.l, hut she did not know the name Of
the vessel. Scarcely had they got well out
at s,a when the ships physician found out
whIs was the matter with the two passen-
gers, and the Captain determined to land
thu, 1t the lirst opportunity. The vessel
put IL At Newport News, and the
SOKELY AFFLICTED WOMAN
and her girl were obliged 20 disembark,
being told that under the circumstances it
would be impossible to put them ashore in
a Brazilian port. She determined to come
back to this city, and arrived at Broad
street station yesterday morning heart
broken at not being permitted to 90 back
to her home, filled with misgiyings that
she would not see her other children any
more, and knowing that she had disease,
whatever it was, which would cause oil to
shun her, she concluded not TO 20 back to
her friends hut let the health authorities
attend to her case.
The fact that lepers had been in this
city was made known 10 the Board of
Health on November first, although they
had probably left at that time. Dr. Form,
who was there, gave it as his opinion that
leprOusy was not contagious unless per-
son came into actual contact with the
sufferer. or handled the clothing. In his
report of the cases to the County Medical
Society, Dr. Van Arlirgen says leprosy is
indeed contagious, ia his belief, and in that
or the majority Of observers, but cOnta-
gion in q slow and uncertain manner.